Patients with Type 2 diabetes receive therapy for periodontal disease see levels of oxidative stress reduced to the same levels as nondiabetic patients, according to a new study reported in the November issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP).

Researchers from Kyushu Dental College in Kitakyushu, Japan investigated the impact of periodontal therapy on patients with Type 2 diabetes, as compared to nondiabetic patients. They found that periodontal therapy decreased lipid peroxide (LPO), an oxidative stress index, in diabetic patients.

"Our research emphasized one of the benefits of having periodontal therapy for patients with diabetes," said researcher Dr. Kazuo Sonoki of Kyushu Dental College. "However, this was just a preliminary study and more research should be conducted to evaluate how periodontal disease affects both people with and without diabetes."

It has been found that diabetes and periodontal disease can lead to atherosclerosis, which occurs when deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque.

It has been thought that oxidative stress, a condition in which antioxidant levels are lower than normal, is linked to heart disease because oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) in the endothelium is a precursor to plaque formation.

"We hear every day about how more and more people are being diagnosed with diabetes," said Dr. Preston D. Millert. "This research confirms that patients with diabetes should be especially conscious of their periodontal health."